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On Saturday, my friends and I made our annual pilgrimage to Sterling Renaissance Festival, a fantastic outdoor festival that takes place every weekend during the summer. The ground are set up to imitate a small English village, and each day at noon Queen Elizabeth and her court parade through, followed by all manner of knights, wenches, thieves, and beggars who wander the village entertaining the visitors. The actor’s costumes and personas are fantastic, and about half of the patrons dress up as well. Naturally, I am in that 50 percent.

To my mind, costumes are all about the accessories. I don’t claim to be an expert (nor do I pretend that my costumes are in any way accurate), but I love finding new bits and pieces for my costume each year. The ‘kilt’ was easy, just a circle skirt out of some plaid fabric I found on clearance a couple years ago. What the Craft and The Ribbon Retreat both have good patterns if you want to make one yourself; they’re wonderfully swooshy!

The accessories though, ah the accessories! Most important (and arguably easiest) is a good leather belt. Everyone at the fair wears one and you’ll see anything from tankards to baby dragons tied on to them. The pouch was another easy bit. Made from the leftover fabric from my skirt and lined with brown fur fabric, I stitched on some bells and a lovely silver owl from an old necklace. He’s been through the wars that bird – one eye and a few feathers gone for good. I never throw away any jewelry though, I even used his chain to make charm bracelets for my sister and me. The wooden fan came from Lily Dale, a small spiritualist community near Buffalo, NY. It smells…like seances and fairy houses, but works well tied on to my belt with a small jewelry clasp. The pocket watch, too, was clipped on to the skirt with a clasp.

The drinking horn is my favorite part of the whole costume. My fiance bought it for me at the Festival a few years ago, at the Art of Fire glass studio. For many years, Foster and his wife Theda put on glassblowing shows every weekend. They no longer do the shows, but still have a lovely little booth right near the entrance! It is by far my favorite place to shop and Mike and I find something beautiful to buy every year.

And! My newest acquisition. Threads of Time is another must see, with handmaid bodices, chemises, and full gowns – all handmaid (as well as stuff for the menfolk, but I’ve only glanced through that). This year I finally purchased a bodice! It’s more of a teal than the one in the picture, and goes with my skirt beautifully. I’m ridiculously excited to add it to my costume for next years excursion!

Along with the shopping, the shows are always spectacular. My personal favorites are the Washer Wenches (clean clothes for dirty people!), Hey Nunnie Nunnie (wacky songs of divine inspiration!) and Franko Master Hypnotist (the funniest show you’ll ever sleep through!). This year I managed to get myself hypnotized and do some very silly things…

So. In conclusion. Go to the festival, flirt with some wenches, and eat a turkey leg for me!

Have you ever heard of a Snoezelen Room? They are wonderful, magical places.

While the word sounds like something you would find in a Doctor Seuss book, it’s actually a combination of the Dutch words “snuffelen” (to explore) and “doezelen” (to doze). Snoezelen rooms provide multi-sensory therapy for people with autism and other developmental disabilities – and have even been shown to benefit seniors with dementia and Alzheimers.

Mary Cariola Children’s Center has its own Snoezelen room (generously sponsored by the Ronald MacDonald charities) with music, bubble tubes, fiber optics, a projector, a swing, and even a black light room. It’s a fantastic place to take the kids when they (or the teachers!) are getting overstimulated and need some help chilling. In my experience, the room also helps to pull the kids out of their own worlds and a little farther into ours by providing motivation and allowing easier concentration.

To provide a full sensory experience, Snoezelen rooms may also have tactile stations such as ball pits and vibrating mats. For olfactory(smell) and gustatory (taste), teachers and therapists may also provide aromatherapy objects or even easy-to-eat foods. No matter what options are presented, the room is entirely client centered experience. Individuals are allowed to choose where to go and what to do with no demand situations, and an opportunity to relax and let their best selves shine through.

In conclusion, will I be building a Snoezelen room for my future home? Absolutely.

Welcome to my blog! My life is filled with so much sweetness right now, along with so much silliness, that I need to document it. So this is where I’ll post all the random bits and pieces that might otherwise slip through the cracks.

For example…

There will be cakes!

There will be cakes! Really now guys, I’m planning a wedding, how could you possibly expect otherwise? Also expect flowers and dresses and jewelry and limousines and photographers and favors and *running out of breath*

There will be crafts! (Be prepared for Steampunk my friends. With a side of Renaissancery and a hot air balloon or two)

There will very likely be bonsai trees, there will be strange words and eldritch beasts, and there will be the day-to-day joys and terrors of an ever-changing life.